C.J. Anderson is not only the first NFL player from Vallejo to play in a winning Super Bowl, he’s also proud of his hometown. On Saturday, he tried to give something back.

The Denver Broncos running back and Jesse Bethel High graduate appeared in front of 20 kids as part of the P&J Foundation’s youth outreach program. The foundation focuses on life-skills training for at-risk youth and holds fun weekend activities where students can connect with positive role models, build self esteem, and let their hair down with their friends.

“I’m excited to be here,” said a bubbly 14-year-old boy. “People are nice to me here. Not at home.”

The first part of the morning was spent creating works of art. The students, who come from schools all over Vallejo, were given canvases with black and white images of classic sneakers. They were invited to paint their own “shoes” and really put themselves into their pieces.

All of the students hunched over their paintings and the volunteers and staff praised them and also offered advice.

“How are you going to get off academic probation?” a volunteer asked a middle-schooler who said she was struggling with algebra.

The strains of Drake, Slim Marion, and Kendrick Lamar served as background music while the kids giggled and occasionally threw each other shade to crack each other up.

When everyone was finished, each person brought his or her work up to the microphone and explained how their shoe represents who they are.

The Philmore and JaMella Graham Foundation was started by the couple’s daughter Deidre Graham, and Executive Director Stephanie Miller said that schools identify kids they think could use a boost through the program.

The Grahams started the Boys and Girls Club in Vallejo, and the foundation is a way of honoring them, Miller said.

After lunch, the guest of honor, Anderson, arrived and a Q&A was set up in the auditorium. Before he took his seat, a rousing video of his professional career played with his signature song “Bam Bam.”

Anderson said he was happy to be there, because he was just like them.

“I grew up in The (Country Club) Crest,” he said, to cheers.

Anderson said he was raised in a single-parent home surrounded by drug houses and his uncle became addicted to drugs. But he still has mad love for The Crest.

“I take it and am proud of it,” he said about his neighborhood.

“I found a way to get through all of that,” he said about his environment as a child. “That’s what I’m here to talk about.”

The Bronco said he first knew he wanted to be in the NFL at 18 months old and he began working toward that goal. He admitted that he wasn’t a good student though, but eventually he realized that if he wanted to live his dream of being a professional athlete, school was going to play a major part. He said that despite his failure to apply himself, he always had some great teachers who believed in him.

After high school he went to Laney College in Oakland and started to take school seriously, eventually transferring to play for the Cal Bears.

“The key to life is consistency and communication,” he told the kids. “It’s about always outworking the person next to you.”

Anderson made an interesting comparison between the high-level dedication it takes to make it to the pros with simply getting up every day and getting dressed.

“That’s consistency,” he said. We get up, we pick out our outfit which is an expression of ourselves, and we put thought into it. In some ways, he said, everyone in the room was already meeting consistent goals daily.